Coach Croy Becomes One of the Fastest Coaches to 300 Wins
12/4/2020 6:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE --- With today's win over SE Louisiana, California Baptist University Head Coach Rick Croy joins an all-star cast of coaches across the country as one of the fastest to 300 wins in his career.
Longtime assistant and current Director of Basketball Operations, Doc Wellman, has been by Croy's side for all 300 of his wins.
"This is a huge milestone achievement for Coach Rick Croy," said interim athletic director Ron Prettyman. "This accomplishment reflects his commitment, work ethic, and ability to coach. He is a great leader of young men. He cares about their Spiritual, Academic, Social, and Athletic development. Join me in congratulating Coach Croy for his 300th win. Hopefully, there will be many more to come as we all work together to move the Men's Basketball program and Lancers Athletics forward. Great job, Coach Croy! LANCE UP!"
"Beyond Grateful for 300 for 3 reasons - moments with many great players that have now become my friends, being on a coaching staff that is a true brotherhood, and my family for always competing with me every day," said Croy. "Also, incredibly special to have my brother Doc Wellman with me for every win. Many more opportunities ahead - we are appreciative every day to represent CBU."
"I am so happy for Coach Croy, all our former players, and his family on 300 wins," said Wellman. Coach is loyal, loving, and remarkably tenacious. This milestone is shared by all who have worked with him, and all who have played for him. I feel honored and blessed to have been with Coach on this remarkable journey—the entire time. There is a destiny that has made us brothers, and I look forward to the many more victories before us."
3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) December 5, 2020
With today's win, @CoachCroy now holds a 300-91 overall record in his 13 seasons as a head coach! Longtime assistant and current Director of Basketball Operations, Doc Wellman, has been by his side for all 300!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/AJcJKTwu4m
Croy, who now holds a career 300-91 overall record in his 13 seasons of coaching, sits at No. 14 all-time among the top college basketball coaches at the NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II level.
Coach Croy takes a moment to reflect on win #⃣3⃣0⃣0⃣ after today's victory against Southeastern Louisiana.
— CBU Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) December 5, 2020
☑️ Players
☑️ Staff
☑️ Family#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/qp7DxuaIc5
| RK. | NAME, SCHOOL | GAMES | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | YR. | SEASON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clair Bee, Rider & LIU Brooklyn | 344 | 300 | 44 | .872 | 15th | 1943 |
| 2 | Jim Crutchfield, West Liberty | 352 | 300 | 52 | .852 | 11th | 2015 |
| 3 | Josh Schertz, Lincoln Memorial | 365 | 300 | 65 | .822 | 12th | 2020 |
| 4 | Adolph Rupp, Kentucky | 366 | 300 | 66 | .820 | 17th | 1947 |
| 5 | Jerry Tarkanian, Long Beach St. & UNLV | 370 | 300 | 70 | .811 | 13th | 1982 |
| Roy Williams, Kansas | 370 | 300 | 70 | .811 | 11th | 1999 | |
| 7 | Dave Robbins, Virginia Union | 375 | 300 | 75 | .800 | 13th | 1991 |
| 8 | Everett Case, NC State | 377 | 300 | 77 | .796 | 13th | 1959 |
| 9 | Harold Anderson, Toledo & Bowling Green | 378 | 300 | 78 | .794 | 14th | 1949 |
| Mark Few, Gonzaga | 378 | 300 | 78 | .794 | 12th | 2011 | |
| 11 | Denny Crum, Louisville | 382 | 300 | 82 | .785 | 13th | 1984 |
| 12 | Henry Iba, Northwest Mo. St., Colorado & Oklahoma St. | 387 | 300 | 87 | .775 | 16th | 1945 |
| 13 | Thad Matta, Butler, Xavier, & Ohio St. | 388 | 300 | 88 | .773 | 12th | 2012 |
| 14 | Rick Croy, Citrus & California Baptist | 391 | 300 | 91 | .767 | 13th | 2020 |
| 15 | Hec Edmundson, Washington | 392 | 300 | 92 | .765 | 18th | 1936 |
| Charles Christian, Norfolk St. | 392 | 300 | 92 | .765 | 14th | 1990 | |
| 17 | Frank Keaney, Rhode Island | 393 | 300 | 93 | .763 | 24th | 1944 |
| Jim Boeheim, Syracuse | 393 | 300 | 93 | .763 | 13th | 1989 |
In his eight seasons with the Lancers, Croy boasts a 170-55 overall record, which places him at third all-time at CBU for most wins in the program. He also holds one of the most dominant records when playing at home, with a record of 103-19 when playing in front of the Lancer fans.
Coach Croy was named the Lancers' head coach in the spring of 2013 and completely revitalized the program. In the first two seasons of the NCAA DI transition, the Lancers broke the NCAA record for most wins in the first two years of a transition program with 37. In the inaugural season of DI ball, the Lancers recorded 16 wins, which was the most by a first-year NCAA DI program that is considered an RPI counter during the four-year transition process.
The Lancers also became just the second first-year DI program to qualify for postseason play by qualifying for and hosting the first round of the 2019 College Basketball Invitational in the 2018-19 season.
Coach Croy's first head coaching job was at Citrus College in Glendora. During his five years at the helm, he quickly made his presence known as one of the state's best junior college coaches, compiling a 130-35 record, which included the program's first-ever state championship in 2008.
He led the Fighting Owls to three straight Western State Conference titles (2008-09-10) and an appearance in the 2010 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Final Four. He was a three-time WSC Coach of the Year, going 92-9 in conference games in that span. Citrus was 35-1 in 2008, 28-5 in 2009, and 29-3 in 2010, the best three-year run in the state.
